Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Abstract Background The city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is experiencing an epidemic of firearm injuries which has resulted in high burdens of morbidity and mortality. Despite this, little scientific literature exists on the topic. Geospatial research could inform stakeholders and aid in the response...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-023-00337-4 |
| _version_ | 1827708577965408256 |
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| author | Athanasios Burlotos Tayana Jean Pierre Walter Johnson Seth Wiafe PROTRA Haiti Group Michelle Joseph |
| author_facet | Athanasios Burlotos Tayana Jean Pierre Walter Johnson Seth Wiafe PROTRA Haiti Group Michelle Joseph |
| author_sort | Athanasios Burlotos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is experiencing an epidemic of firearm injuries which has resulted in high burdens of morbidity and mortality. Despite this, little scientific literature exists on the topic. Geospatial research could inform stakeholders and aid in the response to the current firearm injury epidemic. However, traditional small-area geospatial methods are difficult to implement in Port-au-Prince, as the area has limited mapping penetration. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of geospatial analysis in Port-au-Prince, to seek to understand specific limitations to geospatial research in this context, and to explore the geospatial epidemiology of firearm injuries in patients presenting to the largest public hospital in Port-au-Prince. Results To overcome limited mapping penetration, multiple data sources were combined. Boundaries of informally developed neighborhoods were estimated from the crowd-sourced platform OpenStreetMap using Thiessen polygons. Population counts were obtained from previously published satellite-derived estimates and aggregated to the neighborhood level. Cases of firearm injuries presenting to the largest public hospital in Port-au-Prince from November 22nd, 2019, through December 31st, 2020, were geocoded and aggregated to the neighborhood level. Cluster analysis was performed using Global Moran’s I testing, local Moran’s I testing, and the SaTScan software. Results demonstrated significant geospatial autocorrelation in the risk of firearm injury within the city. Cluster analysis identified areas of the city with the highest burden of firearm injuries. Conclusions By utilizing novel methodology in neighborhood estimation and combining multiple data sources, geospatial research was able to be conducted in Port-au-Prince. Geospatial clusters of firearm injuries were identified, and neighborhood level relative-risk estimates were obtained. While access to neighborhoods experiencing the largest burden of firearm injuries remains restricted, these geospatial methods could continue to inform stakeholder response to the growing burden of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:06:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18cecc7a17e048c8a25581d754435f53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-072X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:06:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| spelling | doaj.art-18cecc7a17e048c8a25581d754435f532023-11-20T10:47:09ZengBMCInternational Journal of Health Geographics1476-072X2023-08-0122111110.1186/s12942-023-00337-4Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, HaitiAthanasios Burlotos0Tayana Jean Pierre1Walter Johnson2Seth Wiafe3PROTRA Haiti GroupMichelle Joseph4Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical CenterHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthLoma Linda University School of Public HealthLoma Linda University School of Public HealthClinical Trials Unit, University of WarwickAbstract Background The city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is experiencing an epidemic of firearm injuries which has resulted in high burdens of morbidity and mortality. Despite this, little scientific literature exists on the topic. Geospatial research could inform stakeholders and aid in the response to the current firearm injury epidemic. However, traditional small-area geospatial methods are difficult to implement in Port-au-Prince, as the area has limited mapping penetration. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of geospatial analysis in Port-au-Prince, to seek to understand specific limitations to geospatial research in this context, and to explore the geospatial epidemiology of firearm injuries in patients presenting to the largest public hospital in Port-au-Prince. Results To overcome limited mapping penetration, multiple data sources were combined. Boundaries of informally developed neighborhoods were estimated from the crowd-sourced platform OpenStreetMap using Thiessen polygons. Population counts were obtained from previously published satellite-derived estimates and aggregated to the neighborhood level. Cases of firearm injuries presenting to the largest public hospital in Port-au-Prince from November 22nd, 2019, through December 31st, 2020, were geocoded and aggregated to the neighborhood level. Cluster analysis was performed using Global Moran’s I testing, local Moran’s I testing, and the SaTScan software. Results demonstrated significant geospatial autocorrelation in the risk of firearm injury within the city. Cluster analysis identified areas of the city with the highest burden of firearm injuries. Conclusions By utilizing novel methodology in neighborhood estimation and combining multiple data sources, geospatial research was able to be conducted in Port-au-Prince. Geospatial clusters of firearm injuries were identified, and neighborhood level relative-risk estimates were obtained. While access to neighborhoods experiencing the largest burden of firearm injuries remains restricted, these geospatial methods could continue to inform stakeholder response to the growing burden of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-023-00337-4 |
| spellingShingle | Athanasios Burlotos Tayana Jean Pierre Walter Johnson Seth Wiafe PROTRA Haiti Group Michelle Joseph Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti International Journal of Health Geographics |
| title | Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| title_full | Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| title_fullStr | Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| title_full_unstemmed | Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| title_short | Small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping: exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| title_sort | small area analysis methods in an area of limited mapping exploratory geospatial analysis of firearm injuries in port au prince haiti |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12942-023-00337-4 |
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